When Formula 1 aficionados Rupali Brar and her 25-year-old son, Yashvir, booked a sixday trip to Bahrain in November last year, they were raring to attend the Bahrain Grand Prix 2026, scheduled for 10-12 April. They shelled out over Rs.1 lakh on hotels, flights and the Grand Prix tickets. In March this year, they had to cancel the trip and are coming to terms with the loss of Rs.75,000 as only the Grand Prix tickets have been refunded. “At least we hadn’t spent on travel insurance and sightseeing, which we were planning closer to travel dates,” says Panchkula-based Brar, who is now taking a short trip to Himachal Pradesh.
The Brars are among a swelling throng of dejected travellers who’ve had their foreign vacations rudely truncated after the West Asia conflict began on 28 February. “We’ve seen 40-50% cancellations for the Middle East and Europe vacations. The latter have been cancelled because most flights have a stopover in the Middle East,” says Bhupinder Rawat, Director, Discover Worldwide Destinations. The redirected and fresh tourists have set their eyes on Southeast Asia this summer, away from the conflict zone (see page 5). “Japan, South Korea and Vietnam are picking up,” he adds.
“We’re also seeing a threefold increase in bookings for the Philippines. Other summer favourites benefitting from the conflict include Bali (Indonesia), Colombo (Sri Lanka), and Vietnam, valued for their convenient 3-4 hour flight proximity,” says Manjari Singhal, Chief Growth and Business Officer, Cleartrip.
However, not all who have suffered massive losses due to non-refundable flights and hotel bookings have been able to rustle up enough funds to book another holiday. “We tried to plan a trip to Sri Lanka, but the airfares had shot up to Rs.55,000-60,000 from the usual Rs.20,000 per person,” says Kumkum Sharma from Mumbai, who had planned a five-day trip to Oman with her friend in March. The duo has lost Rs.41,600 in cancelled bookings and is forgoing their vacation this summer.
Airfares have risen for both domestic and international destinations, with Air India, IndiGo, and Akasa Air increasing fuel surcharges in mid-March (see graphic). These are set to rise further from 1 April, as the Ministry of Civil Aviation has decided to withdraw the `18,000 cap on domestic fares from 23 March. “The USA is the costliest international destination right now, while fares to popular European summer spots like France, Greece and Italy are much higher than earlier,” says Singhal.
Agrees Ajay Awtaney, Founder & Editor, Live From A Lounge. “It’s best to book immediately instead of waiting. A friend had booked a Paris flight for Rs.60,000, but when the visa did not come by mid-March, he had to reschedule it at Rs.2 lakh. The prices have increased two to three times for non-stop flights heading West,” he says.
Even those who have managed to recover the entire booking amount prefer domestic destinations. Vikas Sahni from Mumbai had booked a holiday to Dubai from 29 March to 5 April with his family. He had spent Rs.1.4 lakh for the Emirates flight and Rs.80,000 on the hotel. He has received the refund from both. “The refund process was very smooth, perhaps because it was Emirates,” says Sahni, who is now travelling to Hyderabad.
Rupali Brar, 50, (right) with son Yashvir, 25, Panchkula PLANNED TRIP Bahrain (8-13 April) BOOKING COST Hotels Rs.45,000 FLIGHTS (return) Rs.30,000 GRAND PRIX Rs.30,000 TRAVEL INSURANCE Hadn’t taken yet
AMOUNT REFUNDED Grand Prix Rs.30,000 TOTAL LOSS Rs.75,000 Note:Though we had taken hotel insurance through the aggregator, we are not sure whether we will be refunded for the same.
Flight cancellations 1,187 Number of flights cancelled by foreign carriers. 4,335 Number of flights cancelled by Indian carriers till mid- March, with Air India alone cancelling around 2,500 flights to West Asia. 2,19,780 Number of passengers affected due to the cancellations. Source: Union Civil Aviation Minister in Lok Sabha
AVOID BOOKING LOSSES
Not everyone has been as fortunate. “Despite buying a hotel insurance from the aggregator, we’re not sure whether we’ll get the money back, and the airline hasn’t yet announced the refunds for April travel,” says Brar.
Buying a standalone travel insurance policy does not help in such situations either. “In almost all standard travel insurance policies, war and armed conflict are explicit exclusions. If a trip is cancelled, delayed, or curtailed because of military action, airspace closures ordered by governments, or escalating conflict in a region, the claim is unlikely to be payable,” says Saurabh Vijayvergia, Founder & CEO, CoverSure.
Is it then possible to get a refund for flight and hotel bookings? Not always, but prudent planning and savvy measures can ensure you don’t lose all your money. In fact, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has recently issued a revised Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) on flight refunds effective from 26 March (see box).
Book flexible hotels only
Consider only hotels that offer free cancellations 24-48 hours before check-in or those that accept payments at the hotel. Typically, non-refundable and peak-season bookings or no-shows do not warrant any refunds. In the normal course, full refunds are offered only if cancellations are made within the specified window, ususally 24 hours to a week. However, exceptions are made in situations like the ongoing crisis, where some hotels are offering full refunds.
Sharma, for instance, received the entire Rs.60,000 from both the hotels she had booked in Muscat and Nizwa. “It was a completely seamless process, with both the hotels providing the full refund of their own accord, without any persuasion from us,” she says.
It also helps to be a member of a global hotel loyalty program or a hotel chain, many of which not only offer discounted rates to their members, but also deduct the amount only a few days before check-in. “On cancellation, Rs.80,000 was simply not deducted and I didn’t have to apply for a refund,” says Sahni.
If you have booked through an online travel aggregator (OTA) or an agent, it may delay the refund process and will also depend on the OTA’s cancellation/refund policy, adding a layer of complication. Some OTAs also offer their own insurance, such as the ‘Cancel for No Reason’ cover by Cleartrip, which allows cancellation of hotel bookings until check-in time with a full refund.
However, it’s important to read the fine print before opting for such covers as there may be terms and conditions that prevent refunds for cancellations.
Check for airline waivers
If you have booked a trip but want to cancel it for a refund, check airline advisories frequently, and if your dates fall within the waiver window, apply immediately. Many airlines, especially in the Middle East, are offering travel waivers, which entitle flyers to no-cost refunds and free date changes. “For instance, Qatar Airways is offering a no-cost refund and so is Emirates for a specified duration,” says Awtaney.
For flyers with confirmed bookings between 28 February and 15 June 2026, Qatar Airways is offering complimentary date changes to a new date up to 31 October 2026 or a no-cost refund. Emirates is also offering a no-cost refund or the option to rebook travel until 31 May for confirmed bookings made between 28 February and 15 April.
Airfare surge after the West Asia crisis With the removal of the airfare cap from 23 March by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the fares are set to shoot up further.
INDIGO Fuel surcharge hike per passenger, per sector from 14 March.
AIR INDIA The airline has announced a 3-phase hike in fuel surcharge from 12 March.
AKASA AIR Rs.199–1,300 per sector rise in fuel surcharge from 15 March for both domestic and international flights.
Opt for flex fares
In the current situation, it may be better to buy fully refundable tickets with options to change dates or reroute, even if you have to pay a cancellation charge. “One of our customers willingly paid Rs.25,000 as cancellation charge for a Rs.2.5-3 lakh ticket to the US because of the high risk,” says Rawat.
“Flex fares are the most expensive options with high cancellation charges, but you’ll get a full refund,” says Awtaney. Flex(i) fares come at a higher price but offer certain perks and the option to cancel or change dates for a fee. For instance, Air India’s Delhi-Paris one-way flight for 27 April costs Rs.1,13,885 under its Value option, Rs.1,18,085 under the Classic option, and Rs.1,26,485 with the Flex option. However, the latter allows double the checked-in baggage limit, rescheduling at no cost (compared to a fee for other options), and cancellation at 20% of the standard cancellation fee.
Kumkum Sharma, 34 (right), Pavni Sood, 34, Mumbai & Delhi PLANNED TRIP Oman (24-28 March) BOOKING COST Hotels Rs.60,000 FLIGHTS (return) Rs.30,000 TRAVEL INSURANCE Rs.1,000 VISA Rs.8,600 INTERNATIONAL DRIVING PERMIT Rs.2,000 AMOUNT REFUNDED Hotels Rs.60,000 TOTAL LOSS Rs.41,600 Note:We won’t stop travelling, but will definitely ensure that we book refundable flights and hotels from now on.
Don’t cancel on your own
At the start of the West Asia conflict, many passengers cancelled their flights in a panic. Remember that if you cancel on your own, you will not be entitled to a refund or will have to pay a cancellation fee. It’s a fact Sharma knows too well. “The airline clearly stated that since it was a voluntary cancellation, I would not get any refund,” she says.
If, on the other hand, the airline cancels on its own, as many in the Middle East did in March, you will get a full refund or free rebooking, as is currently being offered by Emirates and Qatar Airways.
New air ticket refund norms from 26 March Though airlines have their own refund rules, the DGCA has revised a few norms for domestic and international flights. REFUND TIME LIMIT Credit card refunds to be processed within seven days; cash refunds at airline offices to be processed immediately. For agent/portal bookings, the onus is on the airline and refund process to be completed within 14 working days. 48-HOUR LOOK-IN Flight details can be cancelled or changed within 48 hours of booking without cancellation charges provided the flight departure is more than 7 days (domestic) or more than 15 days (international) from the date of booking, and the ticket is booked via the airline website. CANCELLATION CHARGE LIMIT Airlines can’t levy cancellation charges more than the basic fare, plus fuel surcharge. This excludes charges by the travel agent disclosed during booking. UPFRONT DISPLAY Cancellation charges for a refundable flight ticket must be shown prominently at the time of booking. MEDICAL EMERGENCY In case of a medical emergency, the airline must provide a refund or credit shell. CASH-CREDIT SHELL OPTION Passengers have the right to choose a cash refund over a credit shell. Statutory taxes should be refunded even for non-refundable tickets. NAME CORRECTION For tickets booked via airline website, passengers can correct name changes within 24 hours of booking without any fee. Source: Directorate General of Civil Aviation
Credit card covers
Your credit card could also help avoid financial losses due to cancellation. Some credit cards like those from IDFC First Bank and ICICI Bank offer insurance, which covers cancellation of flights and hotel bookings. For instance, IDFC First Bank Ashva Metal credit card offers ‘Cancel For Any Reason’ cover of up to Rs.25,000 twice a year on hotel and flight bookings (for non-refundable portion of the booking), if the booking is made using the card. IDFC First Bank Mayura offers a similar cover with reimbursements of up to Rs.50,000 twice a year for cancelled flight or hotel bookings made using the card.
Travel aggregators
“It may be best to avoid OTAs and book flights directly through airlines because there are several hidden costs as well as terms and conditions that may not make you eligible for refunds,” says Gurugrambased travel influencer Pallavi Pasricha.
The same may be true of travel companies or agents, wherein they may leave the decision-making to the airline or hotel, or have their own rules that override the hotel or airline’s refund policies. They could also take longer to process the refund even though they may offer their own covers.
“Thomas Cook’s TravSure offers free rescheduling and refunds in emergencies, additional coverage for disruptions such as airspace closures and war-like situations, and protection against non-refundable travel components,” says Abraham Alapatt, President & Group Head, Marketing, Service Quality, Value Added Services & Innovation, Thomas Cook (India) and SOTC Travel. However, it also states that “in terms of cancellations due to situations like the ongoing conflict, refunds are typically assessed on a case-by-case basis, depending on supplier policies”.
If you do go through a travel firm or agent, make sure you pick one with a good track record who can help you in times of distress.
Subscription
as a Reliable and Trusted News Source
Add Now!
ETPrime Membership
